Chinese grammar / 486 topics
Chinese grammar · page 6
Find a sentence pattern, read how it works, and practise it with Chinese examples, pinyin and English translations.
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Showing 181–216 of 486 topics
这么、那么 zhème nàme
So, This and That Degree with 这么 and 那么
Use 这么 and 那么 before adjectives to point to a degree, and understand how context and viewpoint affect the choice between them.
挺……的 tǐng…de
Quite and Pretty with 挺……的 (Tǐng…De)
Use 挺 before adjectives or suitable mental predicates for conversational degree, often followed by 的 at the end of the descriptive phrase.
比较 bǐjiào
Rather and Relatively with 比较 (Bǐjiào)
Use 比较 before adjectives or suitable mental verbs for a relative degree, and distinguish the adverb from the verb meaning to compare.
什么的 shénme de
And Things Like That with 什么的 (Shénme De)
End an informal Chinese list with 什么的 when similar items are understood, including a single illustrative item or a series of activities.
之类的 zhī lèi de
Things Like That with 之类的 (Zhī Lèi De)
Use 之类的 after examples to refer to similar things, optionally introduce them with 像, and add a category noun when it clarifies the meaning.
等等 děngděng
And So On with 等 and 等等 in Chinese
Use 等 or 等等 after examples in a Chinese list, understand the role of a following category noun, and distinguish these endings from casual 什么的.
不过 bùguò
A Softer But with 不过 (Bùguò) in Chinese
Use 不过 to introduce a qualification or contrasting point after a statement, while recognizing that tone and context determine how strong the contrast feels.
要不 yàobù
Making Suggestions with 要不 (Yàobù): How About
Use 要不 to propose an option in conversation, often with final 吧, and distinguish this suggestion use from 要不 meaning “otherwise.”
还有 háiyǒu
Adding an Afterthought with 还有 (Háiyǒu)
Use 还有 to introduce another point or reminder in a conversation, and distinguish the connector from a literal statement that something else exists.
另外 lìngwài
In Addition and Separately with 另外 (Lìngwài)
Use 另外 to introduce an additional point or modify an action done separately or extra, with 还 or 也 often reinforcing addition.
再说 zàishuō
Besides and Moreover with 再说 (Zàishuō)
Use 再说 at the start of a supporting clause to add another reason for a decision or judgment, rather than translating it literally as “say again.”
那么、那 nàme nà
Then and In That Case with 那么 (Nàme) and 那 (Nà)
Use 那么 or 那 to respond to established circumstances with a decision, inference, suggestion, or follow-up question in Chinese.
来 lái
来 (Lái) for Purpose: Connecting a Method to an Action
Learn how 来 connects a tool or method to its purpose, including common Chinese patterns with 用 and 通过.
个个、天天 gègè, tiāntiān
Reduplicated Chinese Measure Words: 个个, 天天, and Every
Understand how repeated measure words such as 个个 and 天天 express every member, every day, or every occurrence.
之前、之后 zhīqián, zhīhòu
之前 vs 之后: Saying Before and After in Chinese
Use 之前 and 之后 after events or as independent time expressions, and compare their meaning and usage with 以前 and 以后.
以来 yǐlái
以来 (Yǐlái): Ever Since and Periods Leading Up to Now
Express an ongoing period with 以来 after a starting event, and use 来 after a duration to mean over the past period.
时 shí
时 (Shí): A Concise Way to Say When in Chinese
Use event + 时 for when or during in Chinese, with correct word order and a comparison to the longer 的时候.
后来 hòulái
后来 (Hòulái): Describing What Happened Later
Use 后来 to connect events in a past narrative and distinguish it from expressions used for future plans.
分之 fēn zhī
分之 (Fēn Zhī): Chinese Fractions and Percentages
Read and form Chinese fractions with the denominator first, and express percentages and proportions using 分之.
多 duō
多 (Duō) After Numbers: Saying More Than in Chinese
Learn where 多 goes in approximate quantities such as ages, prices, and durations when an amount exceeds a round number.
吗 ma
吗 with Question Words: Embedded Questions in Chinese
See why 吗 can appear with 什么, 谁, or 哪里 when the question word belongs inside a larger yes-no question.
嘛 ma
嘛 (Ma): Presenting Something as Obvious in Chinese
Use sentence-final 嘛 to explain an obvious point, offer reassurance, or add insistence, and distinguish it from 吗.
吧…吧 ba…ba
吧…吧: Weighing Two Unsatisfactory Options in Chinese
Use repeated 吧 to weigh alternatives, explain the drawback of each choice, and express uncertainty about a decision.
的 de
Sentence-Final 的 (De): Certainty and Reassurance
Understand how 的 at the end of a statement expresses confidence, including common reassuring sentences with 会.
关于 guānyú
关于 (Guānyú): About, Regarding, and Topic Phrases
Use 关于 to introduce a topic or form a noun modifier with 的, and avoid adding it unnecessarily after Chinese verbs.
直到…才 zhídào…cái
直到…才: Not Until and Continuing Up to a Time
Express not until with 直到…才 and understand how 直到 with a negative clause describes a situation lasting to a boundary.
给 gěi
给 (Gěi) Before a Verb: Doing Something for Someone
Place 给 before the beneficiary of an action to describe services, favors, and things done for another person in Chinese.
为 wèi
为 (Wèi): Acting for Someone or Expressing Concern
Use 为 to identify who an action, feeling, or contribution is for, with common patterns for work, support, and concern.
不到 bùdào
不到 (Bùdào): Less Than an Amount or Before a Milestone
Use 不到 for quantities below a stated limit and combine it with 就 to emphasize that something happened sooner than expected.
向 xiàng
向 (Xiàng): Toward Someone, Asking, and Learning From
Use 向 for physical direction and for the person addressed in requests, apologies, reports, or learning from someone.
往 wǎng
往 (Wǎng): Directions, Destinations, and Continuing
Use 往 before directions and movement verbs, recognize formal verb + 往 phrases, and understand 往下 for continuing an activity.
在…上、在…下 zài…shàng, zài…xià
在…上, 在…下, and 在…方面: Abstract Chinese Frames
Discuss a topic, describe surrounding conditions, or name an aspect with the Chinese patterns 在…上, 在…下, and 在…方面.
对 duì
对 (Duì) with Verbs: Targets, Feelings, and Attitudes
Learn common 对 + target patterns for speaking to someone, showing an attitude, and expressing interest or responsibility.
看起来 kànqilai
看起来 (Kànqilai): Saying Something Looks or Seems
Describe visible impressions with 看起来 + adjective and use 看起来像 when saying what a person or thing looks like.
让、叫、请、使 ràng, jiào, qǐng, shǐ
让, 叫, 请, and 使: Chinese Causative Verb Patterns
Build causative sentences with 让, 叫, 请, and 使 to describe permission, requests, and actions or feelings caused by others.
要看、得看 yào kàn, děi kàn
要看 and 得看: Saying It Depends in Chinese
Explain what a decision depends on with 要看 or 得看, from short answers to full sentences about uncertain outcomes.
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